enthesis

en·the·sis
E1N1T1H4E1S1I1S1
/ɪnˈθiː.sɪs/

noun

The insertion point at which a tendon, ligament, or muscle inserts into a bone.

Scrabble 11

Meanings

nounenthesis (plural entheses)

plural entheses

  1. anatomyThe insertion point at which a tendon, ligament, or muscle inserts into a bone.

    Functional entheses occur where tendinous and ligamentous structures, while not actually attaching to bone, are adjacent and in a close relationship to the underlying bone.

    2007, Philip Helliwell, James Woodburn, The Foot And Ankle in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Comprehensive Guide, page 64
    2 more examples

    Like arthritis, peripheral enthesitis occurs predominantly in the lower extremities, particularly in the foot, at single sites at onset, and then at several entheses throughout the course of the disease.

    2004, Erbil Ünsal, “Chapter II: Andersson Lesion in Early Juvenile Spondyloarthropathies”, in Frank Columbus, editor, Focus On Arthritis Research, page 26

    Inflammation of the enthesis, when associated with arthritis in children, is called the syndrome of seronegative enthesopathy associated with arthritis (SEA). The entheses most commonly involved in children are the plantar aponeurosis, calcaneal enthesis, and distal and proximal patellar ligament insertions.

    2010, Richard J. Wakefield, Maria Antonietta D′Agostino, Essential Applications of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Rheumatology, page 211

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἔνθεσις“putting in, insertion”
  2. Englishenthesis

From Ancient Greek ἔνθεσις (énthesis, “putting in, insertion”).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan èntesi
  • èntesipoint at which a tendon, etc., inserts into a bone
Chinese Mandarin 附著點 /附著点, 附着点
  • 附著點 /附著点point at which a tendon, etc., inserts into a bone
  • 附着点 (fùzhuó diǎn)point at which a tendon, etc., inserts into a bone
Estonian liiges
  • liigespoint at which a tendon, etc., inserts into a bone
Finnish kiinnityskohta
  • kiinnityskohtapoint at which a tendon, etc., inserts into a bone
French enthèse
  • enthèsepoint at which a tendon, etc., inserts into a bone
Italian entesi
  • entesipoint at which a tendon, etc., inserts into a bone
Japanese 腱付着部
  • 腱付着部 (kenfuchaku-bu)point at which a tendon, etc., inserts into a bone
Latvian entēze
  • entēzepoint at which a tendon, etc., inserts into a bone
Polish przyczep ścięgnisty
  • przyczep ścięgnistypoint at which a tendon, etc., inserts into a bone
Russian энтез, энтезис
  • энтез (entez)point at which a tendon, etc., inserts into a bone
  • энтезис (entezis)point at which a tendon, etc., inserts into a bone
Spanish entesis
  • entesispoint at which a tendon, etc., inserts into a bone

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

enthesis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/enthesis

MLA

“enthesis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/enthesis. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “enthesis,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/enthesis.

Source: enthesis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.